title: Intervention strategies for spatial orientation disorders in dementia: a selective review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This article provides a brief overview of the intervention strategies aimed at reducing spatial orientation disorders in elderly people with dementia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight experimental studies using spatial cues, assistive technology programs, reality orientation training, errorless learning technique, and backward chaining programs are described. They can be classified into two main approaches: restorative and compensatory, depending on whether they rely or not on residual learning ability, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A review of the efficacy of these intervention strategies is proposed. Results suggest that both compensatory and restorative approaches may be valuable in enhancing correct way-finding behavior, with various degrees of effectiveness. Some issues concerning (a) variability in participants' characteristics and experimental designs and (b) practicality of intervention strategies do not permit to draw a definite conclusion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Future research should be aimed at a direct comparison between these two strategies, and should incorporate an extensive neuropsychological assessment of spatial domain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Educational Sciences, Psychology, Communication, University of Bari , Bari , Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Caffò
authors.forename: Frans
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hoogeveen
authors.forename: Mari
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Groenendaal
authors.forename: Anna Viviana
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Perilli
authors.forename: Luciana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Picucci
authors.forename: Giulio E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Lancioni
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bosco
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003463:Cues; D003704:Dementia / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009949:Orientation; D011788:Quality of Life; D012656:Self-Help Devices; D013028:Space Perception